Marlene A. Sassaman's Blog (111)

Another chapter in my aging life closed yesterday about 2 pm when I seemingly nice gentleman bought my six year old Sunfish. It felt nice returning from the regatta knowing I could tend to other things besides washing the boat, fixing up little do dads and getting her ready for the next race. I grew tired of dragging her off the hill at the yacht club. I grew tired of sailing upwind with no competition within 100 yards after rounding the first mark. Well, certainly after the leeward mark the…

Years ago a sailing friend who specializes in building hydrofoils reminded a group of us that change only takes place via revolution or evolution. This was related to the development of such performance boats as high speed hydrofoil sailboats.It also applies to life. Take for instance the sudden change to a spouse left alone by his or her mate's untimely death. Suddenly decisions have to be made which may cause major change; selling a house, moving in with other family members, getting a…

Reading the Yanmar Diesel Manual was overwhelming at first. I scanned each page of it a few months back as I transitioned it into a looseleaf notebook. Important pages, like what type of oil to use and the maintenance checklist were put in a plastic sleeve. During my daily boat check on Monday I was too tired to take on any real tasks, like sanding the eyebrow the protects the gps in the cockpit, I slithered below to sit at the galley table. After gazing out the stern castle window, which…

Here comes another lesson to learn about diesels. Maybe I should keep a log of each thing I learn....well that's another blog entry. For now my concern is that the last two times, about a week apart, that I started up my Danny Diesel, 2 gm yanmar she made that grinding kind of sound that makes you say, "Come on baby, you can start!" Someone told me yesterday that a diesel should start up right away. So, do I check the battery, the alternator, or what?????

This week-ends' GAM sponsored by the 7 Seas Cruising Association had a mediocre attendance. The two GAMS I attended during the past 4 or 5 years had many more attendees, vendors and speakers/seminars. Guess everyone's budgets are low. Or, perhaps, it's just the same old thing.

On the one hand cruising, with all its technological/electronic gadgets, has made sailing safer. Perhaps, for some it has lost its appeal. Certainly the median age is within the realm of being considered…

It isn't every day two pioneers in the multihull faction have dinner together. So it was last Monday when Jim Brown on the left and Sam Bradfield had the opportunity to swap stories of their involvement over the past 50 years. Jim gets kudos from his Searunner line of trimarans while Sam boasts advances in the world of…

Tomorrow is here; I have my food diary ready to carry with me and the reality of how attached I have become to my many possessions. For the cirumnavigation and certainly for my life after I can't take sailboards, snowboards, murals, paintings, life size pictures, flower vases, office furniture, my custom cherry wood bedroom suite, faux suede big chair, total gym, weights, recumbent bicycle, beach cruiser, dolls, and oh dear I can't leave my 62 year old Teddy Bear . . .

UUUUUUUUUUGGGGGGGGGG, it's just too much camraderie with kids, friends, and neighbors. When will it end? I have a round the world cruise to plan. I have excess fat to remove. I have organizing that needs to be organized.I have a boat to spiff up, another boat to sell (boo hoo and bye bye Hobie 14) .... and cute little sunifsh is on her way out as well. I have a women's team that may default, a job I don't want to wake up for and I hate way too much candy.

After days of trying to get my blog log in correct I finally succeeded. What annoys me is that I finally succeeded after admitting my failed attempts to a fellow sailing friend and blogger. At least I answered her inquiry about writing up my adventure purchasing a Marples 35 foot tri in the Rio Dulce.

I guess with my log in back in order I'm ready to tell my story. Just to give you a taste, my journey actually culminated this afternoon while sailing with Jim Brown. If you…

Anyway, I think I need a blog coach, you know someone who can help me put some pizazz in my writing; someone who can help me put inspiration in my writing, someone who can help me turn my experience, determination, and passion for wmaking my dream a reality into something that will have meaning and motivation for…

As I look forward to learning how to change the oil in my inboard diesel, I had to re-learn the importance of being upfront and honest. It's one thing to tell the truth, it's another thing to take the initiative to tell someone something they might not want to hear. For example, the lasttime I boarrowed a friend's sailboat the outboard was not very cooperative. It was easy for me to discount any mechanical problem and simply blame myself for not pulling the cord with enough torque. After 3…

Doesn't it feel good to take something off the endless list? Now that I can say I did a 3 week open water voyage I am enthralled with myself. Tonight I saw at a meeting for an upcoming annual Mermaid Regatta. The competition will be stiff and I don't have the energy to coach my crew. I'm preoccuppied and tired of motivating others. So, I'll take this one on the chin. Gather up who I can and give it my all. I'll concentrate on driving the boat, having the boat in decent working order, and…

Doesn't it feel good to take something off the endless list? Now that I can say I did a 3 week open water voyage I am enthralled with myself. Tonight I saw at a meeting for an upcoming annual Mermaid Regatta. The competition will be stiff and I don't have the energy to coach my crew. I'm preoccuppied and tired of motivating others. So, I'll take this one on the chin. Gather up who I can and give it my all. I'll concentrate on driving the boat, having the boat in decent working order, and…

It has been said if you make enough money to require a payment to Uncle Sam, then you are in good shape. Put the good with enough and you have the name of the boat I just purchased: Good Enough. Yipe, I am the proud owner of a Marples 35 wood/epoxy constant camber tri..... After a successful sail home from the Rio Dulce, she'll be renamed SPRAY 3 (same as my Corsair was named).…

Thanks to Russell, Steve, Sail Dancer, Mark and Karen for your encouraging words. Now that I decided to buy the boat the challenge is finding a 3rd crew to assist with sailing her home. Time is short as I need to get plane reservations at a reasonable rate and have 'er home by August 2. There is always a challenge, always an obstacle to overcome and always a reason to change one's mind. Been trying to hook up with Suky but the computer, Sea Knots, and I are also having our communication…

Not one person responded to my question about wood/epoxy boats. So, on my own, with some research and a conference with my boat mentor, along with that good old woman's intuition the decision has been made. Tomorrow, I will make a reasonable offer on the trimaran of my dream.Okay, so she needs some prettying up, but I believe she is a secure well made beast that isn't simply good enough, rather she is going to complement SPRAY. A cross between my Corsair, SPRAY, and Slocum's cruiser, this…

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